Lance noticed Xavier returning shortly after he left. Frowning, he asked, "Did you finish the discussion so quickly?"
"No, Old Cody is still persuading Bella. I came back because I just received some news," Xavier said, stopping mid-sentence and looking at Lance with a worried and troubled expression.
Seeing Xavier's hesitant demeanor, Lance was displeased. "What news has you so hesitant?"
Hearing Lance's reprimand, Xavier shivered but stood his ground, biting his lip in silence.
As the tension between them grew, Gunner appeared at the door. Sensing the strained atmosphere, he glanced back and forth between them and asked, "What's going on here? Xavier, you called me over saying there was news about Deanna. What is it?"
"Mr. Martinez, before I share the news, please give Mr. Mercer an injection. I'm worried he won't be able to handle the shock," Xavier said hoarsely.
Lance and Gunner's expressions turned serious upon hearing this. Gunner gave Xavier a deep look before walking over to Lance. Lance was already trembling slightly, sensing that the news was not good. For him, there was only one piece of news that could be so distressing.
Clenching his fists tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands, Lance felt a sharp pain on his scalp as Gunner's voice sounded, "Alright, you can tell us now."
Xavier's eyes reddened, and his voice cracked with emotion. "I just learned from Bella that the Missus is pregnant."
"What did you say?!" Lance and Gunner's eyes widened in disbelief.
Xavier repeated, "The Missus is pregnant!"
This time, Lance and Gunner heard it clearly. Almost immediately, Lance erupted like a demon from hell, his eyes bloodshot. "Where is Bella? I want her dead!"
He stood up, ready to find Bella. Gunner, seeing his unstable state, moved to knock him out but Lance wouldn't let him succeed. At that moment, all Lance wanted was to tear Bella apart for daring to harm his child.
A fierce fight broke out between Lance and Gunner. Gunner was no match for the enraged Lance. Watching the frenzied man before him, Gunner grew increasingly anxious. If this continued, all the progress he had made in treating Lance's injuries would be undone, and recovery might become impossible.
"Stop standing there! Help me!" Gunner shouted at Xavier.
Xavier snapped out of his daze and joined in. With his help, they managed to knock Lance unconscious after a few minutes.
Holding Lance, Gunner noticed something was wrong and his face changed dramatically. "This is bad. His old injury has flared up. Quickly, get him back to the hotel."
Xavier panicked upon hearing this. He remembered Gunner saying that if Lance's old injury relapsed, it might never heal again. He immediately arranged for them to be escorted back to the hotel.
When Lance woke up two days later, he lay weakly in bed, his mind still foggy. Seeing Gunner enter brought back memories of what happened before he passed out.
Anger surged within him, causing a metallic taste in his throat as blood trickled from his mouth.
Gunner quickly stepped forward and used acupuncture on Lance's chest while scolding him. "Do you want to die? Your madness has undone all my previous treatments!"
"Is Bella dead?" Lance asked, obsessed with knowing.
Gunner met his stubborn gaze and replied irritably, "Don't worry. She's alive. You can deal with her yourself once you're better."
"Good. Very good. I will make her wish for death over life!" Lance said through gritted teeth.
Then he added darkly, "And the Cody family won't be spared either!"
Call it misplaced anger or irrationality; if the Cody family had disciplined Bella better, none of this would have happened.
He deeply regretted not wiping out the Cody family when his grandfather pleaded for mercy.
Gunner looked into Lance's hate-filled eyes but said nothing. He understood Lance's feelings all too well; he had experienced such hatred himself.
"You want revenge for Deanna and the unborn child? Fine. But take care of your health first. If anything happens to Deanna, remember that Gregory, Chloe, and Old Ashley still need you."